1 . Erica James is the author of 23 best-selling novels. Now, the romance novelist shares the books that shaped her career.
Three Men in a Boat
Jerome K Jerome
This was the initial book that made me laugh out loud. Anything I’d read previously had been school texts. Reading them was like watching paint dry, but suddenly here was something exciting which clearly shows a great many features of human behaviour. From then on, I fell in love with reading.
A Woman of Substance
Barbara Taylor Bradford
I was a mother when I read this novel and was thoroughly swept up in the rags to riches story of Emma Harte. Barbara created a strong sense of family and it sowed a tiny seed within me that I might create my own word though putting pen to paper.
Saint Maybe
Anne Tyler
Saint Maybe is a sad example of how one small mistake can result in tragedy for a family. As always with Anne Tyler, there’s sadness and humor within the pages, but the true strength of this novel lies in the author’s ability to write with sympathy
The Marriage Pact
Michelle Richmond
The Marriage Pact is a psychological thriller, making me be a nicer wife. Jake and Alice are invited to join an exclusive organization called The Pact, which promises to help them have a lasting marriage. I wanted to write a story like it: Great love for life.
1. Which book first made Erica James interested in reading?| A．Three Men in a Boat | B．A Woman of Substance |
| C．Saint Maybe | D．The Marriage Pact |
| A．It is her first book. | B．It makes her more hopeful. |
| C．It inspires Erica to be a writer. | D．It helps her manage job challenges. |
| A．They share a sad tone. | B．They go against textbooks. |
| C．They are focused on family problems. | D．They are good influences on Erica’s life. |
2 . Stories are loved by people of all ages. Stories for kids play a major role in shaping their personalities. Below is a list of some of the best short stories for kids that we’re sure that your child would enjoy reading:
Panchatantra Stories in English
Most children stories significantly focus on teaching morals to kids. Panchatantra stories for kids are designed with the same motive. These are the oldest short moral stories for kids. These amazing small stories for kids in English from Panchatantra have reached an audience worldwide. To attract your kids with exciting stories, we provide you with our versions of some of the most famous and loved Panchatantra Stories for kids.
Fairy Tales Stories
Fairy Tales stories are loved by kids. The world of fantasy attracts everyone. These children stories give them a chance to leap into a world full of possibilities and imagination as well as moral lessons. They build their own versions of the fairies. Thus, such short stories for kids in English can build better creativity in children.
Moral Stories for Kids in English
Moral stories for children are those stories that convey moral values, which are crucial during their upbringing. Usually, moral stories for kids convey principles such as love, respect, honesty, virtues, etc. to their readers. Short moral stories for kids fill kids with a better understanding of what is considered good and what is termed as bad.
Akbar Birbal Stories
For generations, Akbar Birbal Stories have been enjoyed thoroughly by every kid. Akbar and Birbal Stories are a great combination of fun, wit, humour and moral values. These English stories for kids entertain, bring smiles and teach life lessons in effortless ways.
1. Who is the text intended for?| A．Kids. | B．Teachers. | C．Parents. | D．Storywriters. |
| A．Fairy Tales Stories. |
| B．Akbar Birbal Stories. |
| C．Panchatantra Stories in English. |
| D．Moral Stories for Kids in English. |
| A．They convey moral values. |
| B．They are humorous and amusing. |
| C．Some versions are written by kids. |
| D．They are stories for people of all ages. |
3 . People who argue that William Shakespeare isn’t responsible for the plays attributed to his name are known as anti-Stratfordians (from the name of Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon). They think that Shakespeare simply was not educated enough or from a high enough social class to have written plays with such a wide range of subjects like history and international culture. Shakespeare was the son of a glove-maker. He only had a basic grade school education, and he never set foot outside of England — so how could he have written in such detail about historical figures and events, or about different cultures and locations around Europe? But in fact, most anti-Stratfordian arguments can be refuted (反驳) with a little background about Shakespeare’s time and upbringing.
First of all, those who doubt Shakespeare’s authorship often point to his common birth and brief education as blocks to his writerly talents. Although it’s true that Shakespeare did not come from a noble class, his father was a very successful glove-maker and his mother was from a very wealthy land-owning family — so he would have been educated accordingly. Also grade school education in Shakespeare’s time was actually quite strict and exposed students to classic drama through writers like Seneca and Ovid. It’s not unreasonable to believe that Shakespeare received a very solid foundation in poetry and literature from the courses at school.
Next, anti-Stratfordians tend to question how Shakespeare could write so extensively about countries and cultures he had never visited before (for example, Romeo and Juliet was set in Italy). But again, this criticism doesn’t hold up to close scrutiny (推敲). For one thing, Shakespeare was living in London, a business, political and cultural center of Europe. Among the daily crowds of people, Shakespeare would certainly have been able to meet travelers from other countries and hear firsthand accounts of life in their home country. For another, it was also the age of the printing press. Such technology made it possible to print and circulate books much more easily than in the past. This allowed people to read about life and ideas throughout Europe. One needn’t travel the continent to learn and write about its culture.
1. What is the main purpose of this text?| A．To explain two sides of an argument. |
| B．To criticize a theory by presenting evidence. |
| C．To give some historical background about a literary figure. |
| D．To encourage readers to be skeptical about famous writers. |
| A．By referring to Shakespeare’s educated parents. |
| B．By insisting upon Shakespeare’s natural talent. |
| C．By comparing Shakespeare with other writers of his time. |
| D．By explaining grade school education in Shakespeare’s time. |
| A．International travel was extremely rare in Shakespeare’s time. |
| B．Until recently, classical drama was only taught in universities. |
| C．In Shakespeare’s time, glove-makers weren’t part of the upper class. |
| D．Some writers in Shakespeare’s time wanted to harm his reputation. |
| A．It’s Shakespeare’s most famous play. |
| B．It was inspired by Shakespeare’s trip to Italy. |
| C．It’s an example of a play set outside of England. |
| D．It was unpopular when Shakespeare first wrote it. |
4 . Sometimes a book comes along that isn’t just “interesting” or “well done”— it’s a book where it seems like the author looked into your brain and wrote a book specifically for you. A book like that for me was released this week. It’s called 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet, written by editor Pamela Paul.
Paul lists 100 things we used to do that the Internet has either changed or taken over completely: writing letters, print newspapers, the joys of being bored, and not having all the knowledge in the world in your pocket.
As I’m a longtime accumulator of random knowledge, certain entries on the list—Being the Only One, Figuring Out Who That Actor is—hit me where live; remembering detailed facts is no longer nearly as impressive when everyone has the capability to find the answer in seconds.
On and on the list goes, with every minor shift adding to the pile. What this book does so well is illustrate the growth of that pile; while any individual item might be no big deal, the collected set is significant. It’s a list of ways in which the world now is different from the world then.
Obviously, Paul isn’t saying that everything back then was better. Time marches on, after all. and it’s tough to argue against the many benefits that the Internet has brought into our lives. But that isn’t really the point. It’s not about whether it used to be better. It’s that it used to be different.
100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet is a fun read for those of us who share some of Paul’s memories and experiences. We remember what it was like and we like to remember. The landscape has shifted, and no doubt it will shift again as technology’s advancement continues apace. This book serves as a reminder of the simple truth that when gains are made, sometimes something is lost.
1. What is the purpose of the text?| A．To review and recommend a good read. |
| B．To comment on the effect of the Internet. |
| C．To argue for the viewpoint of a new book. |
| D．To urge the readers to value what they have. |
| A．Maps and Eye Contact. |
| B．E-pay and Compact Disks. |
| C．Postcards and Homeschooling |
| D．Bad Photos and Washing Machines. |
| A．Prove what I’m good at. |
| B．Introduce how I grew up. |
| C．Describe the place I live in. |
| D．Speak out what is on my mind. |
| A．Things in the past are better. |
| B．There’re no gains without pains. |
| C．The internet is a double-edged sword. |
| D．Technology is constantly changing the world. |
5 . From civil rights to environmental protection, the following books of fiction and nonfiction cover a wide range of topics. And every young liberal（开明人士）should read them.
An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore
Al Gore caught the attention of the world with his 2006 book An Inconvenient Truth, which was later turned into a movie. Based on his lecture tour on global warming, the work explains climate change in a user-friendly way and opens the public’s eyes to the plight（困境）of our planet.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
When John Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962, he was praised for his realistic and imaginative writings, including The Grapes of Wrath. This book centers on a family of Oklahoma farmers who are forced off their land during the Great Depression. While it touches on timely issues such as labor unions and agricultural industry changes, it also explores universal themes of power, family, self-interest and dignity.
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Focusing on the meat-packing industry in Chicago, Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel The Jungle explores the life of immigrant workers in the early 20th century. The best-selling account actually made President Theodore Roosevelt pass the law about food safety that year.
The Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Krugman
Economist and Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman presents 80 years of US history in The Conscience of a Liberal, which examines the fall and rise of economic and political inequality. Many believe the 2007 book was a clear call for progressives（进步人士）to take control of the country’s economic future.
1. Which book should you read if you want to know something about environmental issues?| A．The Jungle. | B．The Grapes of Wrath. |
| C．An Inconvenient Truth. | D．The Conscience of a Liberal. |
| A．It helped bring a new law into effect. |
| B．It helped increase the meat sales of Chicago. |
| C．It helped develop the meat-packing industry. |
| D．It helped change the life of immigrant workers. |
| A．They explore the value of a happy family. |
| B．They have the same historical background. |
| C．They are about the economic development. |
| D．They are written by the Nobel Prize winners. |
6 . Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy
About this award
Sponsored by the Ray Bradbury Foundation, the Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy offers $ 1, 000 scholarships for up to six students who use science fiction and fantasy themes in their writing. All students in the U.S. in grades 7-12 (ages 13 and up) can participate.
What is Science Fiction & Fantasy?
Science Fiction & Fantasy uses supernatural, magical, futuristic, scientific, and technological themes as a key element of the writing. Popular examples of science fiction and fantasy include Ray Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451, as well as more modern fiction series like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games.
Your voice can imagine alternative worlds or the future of our planet, and in turn, teach us about the present. Even if you are new to writing science fiction and fantasy, this award is for you!
How do I apply?
Enter your work to any category in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. When selecting the category of your work, choose "Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy". You will be required to include a personal statement on your work.
What should I write for the personal statement?
Your personal statement should be 50 words or more and answer the following questions:
Why do you think your work falls into the category of science fiction and fantasy?
Why are you specifically interested in using science fiction and fantasy themes, compared to more realistic ones?
Submissions
Submissions open on September 1, 2021 and the deadline is December 1, 2021. Do not base characters or plots on already published works(books, movies, comics, etc.). Works that are novel-length should be submitted to the Novel category.
1. What can we infer about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards?| A．It is a TV program for artists and writers. |
| B．It is an activity that students can participate in. |
| C．It is a website containing various award categories. |
| D．It is a school where students are trained for competitions. |
| A．Why you are interested in science. |
| B．Why you like science fiction and fantasy. |
| C．Why you want to be a science fiction writer. |
| D．Why your work is right for this award category. |
| A．Submit your work by December 1. | B．Complete your work on September 1. |
| C．Complete your work with over 50 words. | D．Submit your work to the Novel category. |
